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About CARCHEX
CARCHEX helps you purchase and maintain your car by offering various vehicle products, including extended auto warranties. Rather than offering its own plans, CARCHEX works with multiple third-party warranty providers. These vehicle service contracts cover repairs due to mechanical failures or malfunctions but not collisions. Plans also come with additional benefits like roadside assistance and towing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available in California
- Partners with charities
- Accepts high-mileage cars
- Lower-cost plans available
Cons
- Doesn't cover exotic vehicles
- Some contracts aren't renewable
Bottom Line
Consider CARCHEX if you’re looking for an extended auto warranty, especially if you have a high-mileage vehicle. Although its contracts can be confusing, company representatives can help you understand what you're signing.
Top CARCHEX Reviews
The sign up process was really simple and easy. The associate gave me a lot of information and answered all of our questions. ... I had hard questions and if he didn't know the an...
Read full reviewI spoke to a young lady at CARCHEX. ... She was there to help me and she didn't let anything stop her. She was able to lower the price. The plan sounded like a pretty good deal. I...
Read full reviewCARCHEX warranty cost
The average price of a five-year contract with CARCHEX is about $1,500. Expect to pay approximately 2 cents per mile of coverage. However, costs vary based on your vehicle’s mileage, year, make and model. The best way to get a better idea of your cost is to get a quote directly from CARCHEX.
CARCHEX lets you pay for your extended warranty over a maximum of 24 months. No down payment is required during this period. CARCHEX accepts all major credit cards, and it has a 30-day, money-back guarantee in case you decide CARCHEX isn’t right for you.
CARCHEX plans
CARCHEX offers five coverage levels that span 16 different warranty plans from different providers.
| Plan name | Type of coverage | Term lengths | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Coverage | Bumper-to-bumper | 7 – 10 years | Comprehensive coverage |
| Platinum Coverage | Stated-component | 5 – 10 years | Short-term coverage |
| Gold Coverage | Comprehensive | 5 – 10 years | Vehicles with over 60,000 miles |
| Silver Coverage | Essential | 5 – 10 years | Basic coverage |
| Bronze Coverage | Major systems | 5 – 6 years | Affordability |
Every CARCHEX warranty is, at a minimum, a powertrain warranty. This means that your vehicle’s transmission, drive axle(s) and engine are covered along with the other components that send power to the wheels.
CARCHEX coverage
CARCHEX’s coverage is available for vehicles with up to 250,000 miles. This coverage kicks in after a waiting period of 30 days and 1,000 miles, but this is a fairly standard requirement among extended auto warranty providers. Once you’re past the waiting period, CARCHEX covers authorized vehicle repairs made at licensed service facilities. You can use its mobile app or website to find a vehicle repair facility near you.
All of CARCHEX’s plans are transferable, and coverage is available in California, which isn't true of many warranty providers. However, not every warranty is renewable.
Additional benefits from CARCHEX include:
- Towing
- Vehicle lockout services
- Rental car coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Emergency fuel delivery
You can also opt for emissions coverage, key fob protection and luxury electronics coverage.
A CARCHEX auto warranty won’t cover everything, though. Modified or aftermarket components aren’t covered, including lift kits or trailer hitches. CARCHEX also doesn’t cover regular maintenance items like oil changes or consumable parts like tires, wiper blades and spark plugs. Check your vehicle service contract for details.
CARCHEX FAQ
What does CARCHEX cover?
CARCHEX offers five levels of coverage, with 16 plans available through its various providers. These plans range from bumper-to-bumper to powertrain coverage.
- The Titanium tier provides bumper-to-bumper coverage.
- Platinum plans offer CARCHEX’s highest level of stated-component coverage.
- Gold-tier warranties provide comprehensive coverage, including major vehicle components.
- Silver programs offer essential coverage for major vehicle systems.
- Bronze contracts are CARCHEX’s lowest level of coverage, often covering the vehicle’s powertrain.
Is CARCHEX legitimate?
Yes, CARCHEX is a legitimate company that partners with multiple warranty providers and is registered with reputable third-party organizations.
Where is CARCHEX available?
CARCHEX is available in all 50 states. Check the company’s website to make sure there’s an authorized repair facility near you.
Is CARCHEX worth it?
CARCHEX is worth it if you’re considering an extended auto warranty. Its coverage and additional benefits, like roadside assistance and fuel delivery, can provide peace of mind and save you money. Plus, its app makes it easy to find a licensed repair facility.
CARCHEX Reviews
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The CARCHEX rep and I were on the telephone for an hour, which was a very long time. I had a lot of questions. And there was a big push to get me to hurry up and agree to it and close the deal. They were going for the fast close. I asked questions about, "Was this commission based?" I know what the gig is, so I wouldn't feel pressured to rush myself through the process. I was very thoughtful as we worked our way through it.
The funny part was, because I had researched it online, I knew what the price parameters were. They started out much higher than anything that they advertised. When I began to pause and have reservations, they started lowering the price. So by the time it was over, it had come down percentage-wise a bit. So, it was just a big game. I've thought about people that don't do any research and don't understand how the sales machine works, probably not a good thing, because they're probably paying more for it than they should.
I liked the flexibility and where I could take my car for service, that there's no end date to it, your payments are fixed for however long you wanna maintain the plan. And I can cancel it anytime I want to. The only thing it doesn't cover is standard maintenance. I bought a used car, so I was looking for something that was all-inclusive. So if I keep it for 5 years, I keep it for 5 years. If I keep it for 10, I keep it for 10. But for right now, it fits my needs.
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CARCHEX offered me the best price and they offered me the best way to pay for it. Most of the companies wanted half down and then pay the other half over the next two months. Carchex said they could do it for over four months and takes just a quarter of it a month instead of having to have half of it down. At first I thought the rep was really pushy. I told him one day I have to talk to my wife about it and that if he calls me one more time, he will not sell me anything from CARCHEX. He changed his whole attitude. I called him back a week later or so and told him that we decided we're gonna go with CARCHEX. He asked if he could call me back the next day.
I had a problem when my bank account and my phone were hacked. The CARCHEX payment got there sooner than my new card did. Mike called about the issue with the payment and told me to just give him the new card number as soon as I can. Two days later, my card came. I called him and he took the new number and I haven't had any trouble since.
I found an email from CARCHEX so I gave them a call because I went online and I saw that CARCHEX was higher rated than Endurance, which I initially worked with. The representative that I talked to pointed out something very important, which is the limit of liability. I wasn't aware of that. My car is a 2011 BMW and it's a beautiful car. It's not new and it's only gonna go lower over time. The limit of liability to the value of the car renders the policy useless. By the end of the policy, you would have paid more money for the policy than what the car is worth. If you're gonna cover me for $5,000 and charge me $600 for the policy upfront, this is a scam. CARCHEX offered a $15,000 limit of liability, which is more than enough to fix whatever happened with the car. Even if it's something with the engine, the warranty still covers it.
The rep I spoke with was perfect. He was very clear about what he was explaining. I reached out to him a couple of times on the call and he always answered. He was very informative and very respectful. I really liked the experience. The only thing with CARCHEX was I didn't get an email with my policy. Endurance sent me an email with the booklet type of thing. With CARCHEX, I got an email with a separate contract and the representative told me that I would be getting the actual policy in the mail. It's no big deal but I would have liked to get the actual policy.
Muhammad,
Thank you for your feedback! Very glad to hear we could assist in setting you up with coverage for your vehicle. Please reach out at any time should you have any additional questions regarding your plan. Thank you for choosing CARCHEX!
So far, my experience with CARCHEX has been exactly what they said it was gonna be. I looked at three different companies and called each one of them. The three big factors I used were price, what they covered, and the patience they had to answer all my questions without repeating themselves and actually answering the question. I signed up with CARCHEX.
I had read a lot about CARCHEX online. They started with asking me stuff about my car first, see what my car was eligible for before they even started going through anything. My car wasn't eligible for some of their plans, so their rep said there are some things they wouldn't be able to offer me. So before they went any further, they went with that first. Then, they went over what it means when it says transmission and suspension and what parts are involved with that, and also what it means if you want to do any kind of rider for anything. I have a turbo. So he was like, “Well, we do have turbo, but it’s a rider.” He told me what the extra was to have that put on there. He explained to me about their cancellation and explained if I never used it, at the end of my term, I would be eligible for partial refund on the unused stuff. He went over how to file a claim and told me what the cost would be monthly.
Ann,
Thank you for leaving your review with us! We are happy to have you as a CARCHEX customer, and glad we could assist.
We usually keep cars for 10 to 15 years and I figured a warranty would be a good investment. I had done a little bit of research about different warranties and Carchex was one of the better ones. If we sold the car in six months or in two years or 50,000 miles, the proration was reasonable. The cost of the length of Carchex's coverage was about average. I was told that if I signed up that day on the phone call and we paid it off at an increased rate, we would save several hundred dollars on the overall cost. I am on an automatic payment system and I'm paying a little bit more a month to pay it off ahead of time. I was told I would get a discount for doing that.
I've owned a lot of different cars and extended warranties have always been something important because at probably every other good used car purchase we make, something goes wrong at 60,000 or 70,000 miles that ends up being close to the cost of the warranty coverage. The warranty coverage usually has an expedited process where you call, talk to a person, and they help you resolve it in terms of, “Here's a rental car. Here's the place to go fix it. “ The couple of times that we've had to use extended warranties, it was much easier than trying to pay out of pocket, find a rental car, find a motel, and find a place for service.
I purchased a used 2016 Jaguar F-Type R, called up Carchex and put the Titanium package on the vehicle. The vehicle had cooling fan failure and overheated the motor. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Jaguar dealership. Jaguar contacted Carchex and provided details on what needed fixed. Carchex told Jaguar that they will not cover OEM parts but would cover aftermarket parts and are saying that I have to pay the difference plus all sales tax. So instead of paying my $100 deductible Carchex is leaving me responsible for a bill over $2000. I do not recommend this company to anybody. What is the purpose of having the best warranty they offer just for them to not cover OEM parts for your vehicle. I am currently having my warranty packet looked over by my company's legal team.
I changed policies, and Carchex applied the time and the mileage that I had already accumulated from the previous policy to the current one. The reps were very polite and accommodating, and it went well.
When I talked to the guy with CARCHEX, I texted a request for information because I tried to find out how much it would cost to put a bumper-to-bumper warranty on a used vehicle that I looked at. And I know the dealership would offer me stuff. So I wanted to know what I could get it for independently so I could compare it with what the dealership offered. I kept saying, "I'm not ready to put it on yet. I'm not ready to put it on yet." And he kept saying, "It'll be $139 a month. Rather than hang up and give up, how about I could do a senior discount and make it 109?" He just kept going down and adding things on.
He got down to $89 a month. It would be 96.13 with tax. I thought that seemed a reasonable amount. He said, "If you pay it today, I can get it for less than that." I said, "How about after I look at this truck, I call you to tell you if I wanna put it on." He said, "Then you'll be back to the 139." I asked, "I wouldn't get any of those discounts?" "No. You only get those discounts if you sign up today."
I understand I didn't do it this way, but I thought about doing it this way, he said, "When do you think you'll make a decision on the truck?" I said, “Probably sometime in the next 10 days." And he said, "Okay. You could do a future draft and so you'd have until the 18th of the month to decide if you're gonna do the coverage or not."
I should have just done that, but I didn't. Because he said, "It'll be $10 less if you do it today and we run it through." So, it was mostly price incentives that made me do it. I was fairly confident that I would buy this truck. When I got down there, there was bad damage that I didn't know about. And it looked like it had been used for auction to the commercial vehicle. So, I decided it wasn't the best buy for the money. This week, I gotta call him and tell him I want a refund and not to continue charging.
I liked what they offered and the price point. The rep was great. He listened to what I had to say. Overall, it was a good experience.
The rep that I talked to was very polite.
CARCHEX Company Information
- Company Name:
- CARCHEX
- Company Type:
- Private
- Year Founded:
- 1999
- Address:
- 118 Shawan Road, Suite 210
- City:
- Baltimore
- State/Province:
- MD
- Postal Code:
- 21030
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.carchex.com